Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared on Wednesday that Israel is on the brink of dismantling Iran’s Islamic Republic as hostilities in the Middle East escalate. Speaking from Mount Hermon on the Syrian front, Netanyahu emphasized that while there remains work to be done, dismantling Iran’s “terror regime” is Israel’s primary goal. He expressed optimism that Iran’s regional network of allies would eventually disintegrate.
The visit to the troops was conducted in the company of Defence Minister Israel Katz. Israeli forces have maintained a presence in southern Syria since the ousting of long-term Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. They have occupied territories that were once part of a UN-controlled buffer zone between Israeli and Syrian forces near the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Netanyahu reaffirmed Israel’s stance against allowing what he termed as a “terrorist army” to establish a foothold along its border.
Since the fall of Assad, Israel has launched numerous strikes in Syria and has frequently sent forces into the region, actions that Damascus has condemned as violations of its sovereignty. However, Israel has justified these moves with its intention to maintain a security zone while advocating for a broader demilitarized area in southern Syria.
Netanyahu’s comments about Iran coincide with a larger confrontation involving Tehran and Washington over the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This conflict has seen both parties engage in a series of exchanges during the ongoing Middle East tensions.